| They call this an eco-experience. But a Karkloof | | | | Sure it's a big rush. But don't think these guys aren't |
| Canopy Tour on the Midlands Meander in KwaZulu | | | | serious about safety. The kit is "state of the art". |
| Natal is more than that. This is adventure. This is | | | | The whole thing's been designed with the strictest |
| adrenalin. This is like your first time on a red or a | | | | civil engineering standards in mind. You begin with a |
| black ski slope. You're thinking, "This is too fast. This | | | | safety briefing. Your harness and gear are checked |
| is too dangerous. I'm gonna die". | | | | and double-checked by the lead guide. And then |
| So what's the skinny? Using state of the art climbing | | | | you're off! |
| and safety equipment, they suspend you on a pulley | | | | "Off" means you've managed to screw up your |
| attached to a steel cable 30 metres above the | | | | courage, closed your eyes, muttered a prayer, and |
| Karkloof indigenous forest floor. And then it's | | | | leapt off the first of seven platforms - high up in the |
| "Goodnight Vienna". | | | | trees. Catch your breath, calm your heart rate. |
| What and where is the Karkloof Forest? The | | | | You've got eight slides, the longest of which is 170 |
| Karkloof Forest is in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. It is | | | | metres long as you whiz and zigzag, down the |
| pristine. And when you see the size of the trees, | | | | pristine indigenous Karkloof forest valley. |
| you'll know. They're old. It is also home to the | | | | By the way, did I mention that they call this an |
| Karkloof Blue butterfly, which inhabits a few hundred | | | | "eco-experience"? You did notice the 20-metre |
| square metres of the forest. And it's found nowhere | | | | waterfall you zoomed over, the river you screamed |
| else in the world. | | | | your way across, the beauty of the forest, the |
| And Karkloof Canopy Tours? Well they're the | | | | extremely rare bird-life, the Samago monkeys? You |
| psychopaths that make a living out of jumping your | | | | did notice these things, didn't you? |
| adrenalin level to the point where it's practically | | | | No? |
| squirting out your ears. | | | | Then you'd better go back and do it again tomorrow! |